award winning books

LA DEVINIÈRE

LA DEVINIÈRE

At La Devinière, near Belgian Charleroi, a group of seriously disturbed people has been living together for forty years; most of them have been treated in regular psychiatry. Psychologist Michel Hock brought them together and created a special home, from the notion that there are no hopeless cases. According to Hock, hopeless can only be the way in which care is provided to them.

Photographer Pia van Spaendonck followed the group for three years. She made contact with the occupants and, in addition to their daily lives, especially fixed their exceptionally expressive faces.